McGinn scratced, but proving himself

NEW YORK — Tye McGinn is just trying to do his part, play his game, follow the typical ethic of a young hockey player.

It would be best, then, that he not think too deeply into what happened Tuesday night in New York ... when McGinn was replaced in the Flyers’ lineup by the apparently recovered Zac Rinaldo.

“They let you be who you are on the ice,” McGinn, the Phantoms promotee, said of his Philadelphia experience. “There are always things you have to work on and that they have to teach you, but they’re really good at that. But everybody is bigger and stronger (than the minors), and you have to work harder every shift to compete and get in front of the net.”

While no one was saying McGinn, 22, wasn’t doing his work, the second-year pro was a healthy scratch against the Rangers. That would likely be due to two overriding factors - that the Flyers were determined to get the physical and energetic Rinaldo back in the mix, and that since the Flyers were playing the Rangers, they’d need a fighter in the lineup.

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Hence, the presence of Tom Sestito on a Tuesday night “chaos line” with Rinaldo and center Ruslan Fedotenko in New York instead of Tye McGinn. Not that there’s anything permanent about that ... just yet.

“I would agree that Tye’s done a nice job for us,” Peter Laviolette said. “We got a chance to see him play in Adirondack this year. And he’s been impressive up here in practice and in games. I actually thought his game in Tampa (Sunday night) was pretty straightforward and decent. But there are always lineup decisions that aren’t taken lightly.”

In four impressive outings since his recall from the Flyers’ AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms, McGinn had a goal, assist and nine penalty minutes. He seemed to transition well from the Phantoms, with whom he’s scored 11 goals in 33 games this season, in two recall assignments - one for a short stay during the Flyers’ six-day training camp, and again when both Scott Hartnell and Rinaldo went down with injuries.

Overall, McGinn has been effective physically and hasn’t seemed to hurt himself with defensive positioning. Rinaldo was back in after missing four games with a skate cut on his thigh. So McGinn was relegated to extra-long practice duty with fellow healthy scratches Kurtis Foster and Jody Shelley. He may or may not be heading back to the Phantoms today.

Either way, the experience would have been worthwhile.

Considering what he’s done since being brought back, McGinn’s scratch might still lead some Flyers fans to scratch their heads.

Against the Lightning, which featured a frenetic performance by game referees Gord Dwyer and Tim Nowak, McGinn put in 5:43 of power play time, which among the forwards was shy only of Claude Giroux, Brayden Schenn and Jake Voracek. Beyond that, McGinn’s positive reviews from the coaching critics continue.

“I”m trying to play my style of game,” McGinn said. “It’s a great bonus to be on the power play. A lot of players want to be on the power play and to get that opportunity is awesome.”

Despite his status Tuesday night, McGinn feels he’s cut out for a future with the Flyers.

“I think so,” he said. “Philadelphia is mostly known for big forwards and the physical part of the game and I like to do that. So hopefully it keeps going well.”

NOTES: Foster has now been scratched from three of the past four games. The free agent signee had fractured his collar bone while playing in Finland during the lockout, and didn’t have much of a “training camp” to get up to speed in time for the shortened season starter. Beyond that, Foster admitted he’d had another undisclosed injury problem that he says he’s over now. “Of course I’m disappointed I’m not playing tonight,” he said, “but I know I just have to stay ready. It’s such a short schedule I think you’re going to see a lot of lineup changes, to be honest with you.” ... Special teams haven’t been special for the Flyers. They entered the Rangers game having scored just 4 power play goals in 31 chances (a paltry 12.9 percent), ranking 24th in the league in that category. They are worse in penalty killing at 27th, allowing 9 opposition power play goals in 29 tries, a kill ratio of 69 percent. “We can be better at a lot of things,” Laviolette said. “Certainly those areas (special teams) are a part of that. ... When you’re winning the special teams you’re usually winning the game.”